I '^'^UmvMsiTY  OF  OREGON  BULLETIN 


NEW  SERIES 


SEPTEMBER,  1912 


Vol.  X,  No.  1 


THE  PROPOSED  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE 
OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OREGON 


The  Husbandry  of  the  Commonweal 


By 


F.  G.  YOUNG, 

Head  of  the  Department  of  Economic*  and  Sociology 
University  of  Oregon 


Published  monthly  by  the  University  of  Oregon,  and  entered  at  the  post-oflftce  In 
Eugene,  Oregon,  as  second-class  matter 


■■ 


■i". 


V. 


THE  PROPOSED  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE 
OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OREGON 


The  Hashandrv  of  the  CoiuTnonweal 


By 


F.  G.  YOUNG, 

Head  of  the  Department  of  Economics  and  Sociology 
University  of  Oregon 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/proposedcommonwe00youn_0 


THE  PROPOSED  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE 
OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OREGON 


The  Husband ol  the  Commonweal 


I 

HIGHER  EDUCATION  GETS  ITS  TRUE  MEANING  FOR  STUDENT 
AND  FOR  CITIZEN  IN  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE. 

PLANE  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY  TO  BE  RAISED. 

The  University  of  Oregon  proposes  to  raise  the  plane  of  higher 
educational  activity.  The  leverage  relied  upon  is  a more  nearly  normal 
educational  process  and  a more  worthy  educational  purpose.  All  of  the 
institution’s  work  is  to  be  brought  into  clear  and  conscious  relation  to 
social  service.  University  effort  v/ill  thus  be  invigorated  by  a new 
motive;  University  courses  shall  be  made  to  focus  upon  the  effecting  of 
definite  social  achievements. 

A WORTHY  END  IN  SIGHT  FOR  ALL  OF  THE  STUDENT’S  WORK. 

Substantial  and  worthy  ends  for  the  work  of  the  students  will  be 
brought  into  view.  The  immediate  application  of  their  fully  matured 
knowledge  in  active  effort  will  mean  attainment  of  power,  and  will  arouse 
interest  far  beyond  what  has  been  possible  under  the  present  less 
edifying  and  less  purposeful  pursuit  of  their  studies.  This  steady  appeal 
to  the  best  in  them  will  foster  the  motive  of  social  service  and  leave  in 
the  background  where  it  belongs  that  of  private  gain. 

CLOSEST  ALLIANCE  BETWEEN  THE  UNIVERSITY  AND  THE  PROGRESSIVE 
CITIZENSHIP  OF  THE  STATE  TO  BE  REALIZED. 

The  University  as  a whole,  with  this  new  controlling  spirit  in  its 
purpose  to  have  a part  in  social  progress,  will  be  brought  into  closest 
alliance  with  the  progressive  citizenship  of  the  State.  Cooperative 
effort  between  the  University  and  social  betterment  movements  will  be 
regular,  sustained,  and  increasing.  A munificent  source  of  energy  for 
commonwealth  uplift,  now  so  largely  latent  or  absorbed  in  more  or  less 
haphazard  and  futile  effort,  will  for  the  first  time  become  fully  active 
and  productive  of  largest  results.  The  pace  of  progress  will  thus  be 
greatly  accelerated. 

THIS  STEP  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY  AN  OUTGROWTH  OF  ITS  COMMONWEALTH 

CONFERENCES. 

This  expansion  of  the  University’s  commonwealth  service  is  but  the 
next  stage  of  growth  of  the  institution’s  activities  in  the  commonwealth 
conferences  that  have  been  held  during  the  last  four  years.  These  were 


a conspicuous  innovation  in  American  state  university  activity.  1.  It  is 
now  proposed  to  develop  that  line  of  effort  in  the  direction  of  extending 
the  work  of  all  University  departments  into  phases  of  active  effort  that 
have  clear  and  vital  relations  to  the  promotion  of  the  common  good.  This 
aim  for  the  first  time  makes  higher  education  in  the  largest  degree 
practical  and  liberal.  It  is  the  only  aim  compatible  with  the  idea  (which 
is  perfectly  true)  that  the  major  part  of  the  University’s  service 
is  realized  through  its  securing  for  the  people  the  highest  standards  of 
professional  service.  Only  as  the  University’s  social  service  function  is 
clearly  and  fully  comprehended  in  its  widest  bearings  and  rigidly 
adhered  to  are  its  activities  held  true  to  the  end  of  fostering  highest 
standards  of  efficiency  in  all  vocations  and  professions.  These  standards 
are  high  only  by  virtue  of  benefic/bnt  and  up-building  social  results. 


THE  UNIVERSITY  WITH  ITS  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE  APPLIES  THE  MOST 
ADVANCED  PRINCIPLE  OF  EDUCATIONAL  THOUGHT. 

This  evolution  of  University  work  is  based  upon  the  position  taken  by 
all  leaders  in  educational  thought  that  “education  is,  fundamentally,  a 
whole-activity  process  in  which  the  intellectual  element  functions  as  a 
tool  of  useful  progress,  and  only  incidentally  a purely  intellectual  or 
knowledge  process.”  2.  The  “whole-activ^ process”  for  which  the  State 
University  is  maintained  and  with  which  the  work  of  every  University 
student  should  be  identified  is  clearly  some  line  of  commonwealth 
improvement.  The  bringing  of  University  work  to  this  active  and  normal 
process  will  go  far  towards  giving  the  key  to  the  problem  of  winning 
the  average  student  to  a primary  interest  in  his  studies  and  away  from 
present  athletic  and  social  distractions. 


THE  STUDENT  WILL  FIND  THE  ABUNDANT  LIFE  IN  HIS  STUDY. 

Through  bringing  the  University  courses  to  bear  directly  upon  the 
different  social  problems  the  work  of  the  University  student  becomes  a 
normal  regimen  for  the  whole-souled  and  talented  young  men  and  young 
women.  Not  only  will  the  joy  of  an  abundant  life  be  theirs  during  their 
four  years  of  University  preparation,  but  when  after  graduation  they 
take  up  their  life-work  their  purpose  and  power  of  social  uplift  will 
have  been  multiplied  many  fold.  The  commonwealth  will  also  have 
profited  greatly  through  this  full  realization  on  the  part  of  the  student 
of  his  possibilities  for  service.  But  of  much  larger  measure  will  be  the 
social  gain  of  the  respective  communities  in  which  each  finds  his  home. 


1.  Many  most  valuable  commonwealth  services  outside  of  these  conferences 
have  been  performed  from  time  to  time  by  members  of  the  University  faculty. 
Conspicuous  among  these  were  the  surveys  and  investigations,  the  results  of 
which  appeared  as  “University  Bulletins”.  It  is  necessary  to  name  only  such 
as  “Water  Power  on  the  McKenzie  River”  ; “State  Systems  of  High  School 
Control”  ; “Procedure  for  Tax  Reform  in  Oregon”,  etc.,  etc.  There  has  been 
also  a rapidly  growing  line  of  social  service  developed  through  the  theses  of  the 
University’s  graduate  and  undergraduate  students  in  fulfillment  of  requirements 
for  Master  and  Bachelor  degrees.  However,  the  present  purpose  of  effecting 
such  a fullness  of  espousal  of  commonwealth  service  as  to  bring  it  into  a 
vitalizing  and  dominating  relation  to  all  of  the  institution’s  work  constitutes  a 
new  step. 

2.  This  is  the  formulation  given  to  this  principle  by  Joseph  K.  Hart  in  a 
paper  on  “The  Failure  of  the  Country  School  in  the  Modern  City”,  published 
in  the  “American  Journal  of  Sociology”,  v.  xviii,  pp.  92-114. 


4 


THE  UNIVERSITY  LEAVEN  OF  THE  SPIRIT  AND  POWER  OF  EFFECTIVE  SOCIAL 
SERVICE  WILL  LEAVEN  THE  WHOLE  SOCIAL  MASS. 

Our  concern  now  is  with  the  University  regarded  as  a single  working 
agency,  with  all  of  its  resources  of  youthful  talent  and  idealism,  with  the 
best  light  of  science  at  its  command  and  with  the  skill  of  scientific 
methods  to  be  applied  to  social  problems.  The  proposed  new  departure 
in  University  activity  brings  this  agency  into  active  alliance  with  all 
other  social  agencies  intent  upon  effecting  civic  improvement.  A social 
gain  of  equal  importance  with  that  obtained  through  the  transforming 
influence  upon  the  individual  students,  because  of  this  commonwealth 
service  of  the  University,  is  to  be  expected  in  the  responsive  cooperation 
of  the  public  to  this  University  initiative.  With  this  social  purpose 
characterizing  the  University  work  the  problem  of  incorporating  all  of 
the  public  spirit  extant  among  the  citizenship  of  the  State  with  the 
University  into  an  integral  whole  is  solved.  All  conditions  that  had 
served  as  obstructions  to  the  carrying  of  the  full  power  of  the  University 
influence  and  functioning  to  the  farthest  bounds  of  the  State  disappear. 
A State-wide  University  activity  becomes  an  established  fact. 

CIVIC  ORGANIZATIONS  ALL  WORK  AS  UNIVERSITY  OUTPOSTS. 

With  the  advantage  of  the  aid  of  a University  imbued  with  the  com- 
monwealth purpose  the  civic  organizations  throughout  the  State  will 
attain  a new  efficiency.  Federation  with  systematic  and  cooperative 
effort  along  lines  of  coordinated  activity  and  with  the  use  of  the  best  light 
of  science  and  scientific  methods  will  now  be  realized  by  them.  This 
marshalling  and  organization  of  all  the  forces  of  progress  means  an 
altogether  new  measure  of  achievement.  By  smoothing  the  way  to 
effective  social  effort  all  with  generous  impulses  will  be  stimulated,  sus- 
tained and  guided.  Civic  impulse  thus  reenforced  by  the  University  will 
become  habitual  and  a new  and  higher  spirit  will  be  engendered  and  will 
reign  among  the  citizenship  of  the  State. 

II. 

COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE  THE  NORMAL  ROLE  OF  THE 
STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TODAY. 

THE  NEW  IN  THE  SITUATION  OF  THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TODAY — A NEW 
WORLD,  A NEW  UNIVERSITY  OUTFIT  AND  NEW  LIGHT  ON  THE 
UNIVERSITY  PROCESS. 

It  has  been  pointed  out  what  it  means  to  the  University  student  to 
have  the  spirit  of  the  University  determined  by  the  espousal  of  direct 
commonwealth  service  and  by  the  molding  of  all  of  its  activity  in  conform- 
ity to  this  mission.  Reasons  have  also  been  given  for  believing  that  the 
spell  of  the  University  will  then  be  cast  over  all  those  throughout  the 
State  who  are  susceptible  to  any  public  spirit,  and  that  their  civic 
organizations  will  have  their  efficiency,  because  of  reliance  on  the  certain 
aid  of  science,  brought  to  a university  standard.  The  consequent  gain 
to  the  State  in  all  lines  of  achievement  is  evident. 

That  the  proposed  espousal  by  the  State  University  of  the  role  of 
direct  participation  in  the  promotion  of  social  progress  is  a departure 
from  the  traditional  function  of  such  institutions  is  fully  appreciated.  Is 
there  sufficient  reason  for  this  repudiation,  or  at  least  distinctive  modifica- 
tion, of  the  time-honored  sphere  of  University  service?  In  the  first  place, 
there  has  been  a wide  disparity  in  the  respective  rates  of  transformation 
which  the  world  outside  and  the  University  have  experienced.  And  more- 


5 


over,  the  very  character  of  the  v/orld  movement  toward  democracy  with 
its  timely  insistence  upon  equality  of  opportunity  has  created  a new 
responsibility  for  the  State  University.  Then  too,  the  University  has  a 
largely  new  outfit  of  knowledge  in  the  sciences,  especially  the  social 
sciences  with  their  immense  humanitarian  utility.  Does  not  the  disparity 
between  what  the  world  was  and  now  is,  between  what  the  University 
had  as  its  tools  then  and  what  it  has  now,  seem  to  make  a strong  prma 
facie  case  against  adherence  to  the  traditional  indirect  service  of  the 
State  University?  Are  not  the  chances  strong  that  the  time-honored 
‘Truth  for  truth’s  sake”  motive  of  the  traditional  activity  has  become 
“an  ancient  good”  and  that  it  is  “uncouth”  under  present  day  conditions? 

And  furthermore,  new  light  has  been  thrown  on  what  makes  the 
normal  educational  process  in  itself — a light  that  reveals  the  fact  that 
the  new  essential  element  for  the  University  student  is  a conscious  and 
vital  purpose.  The  carrying  out  of  this  purpose  in  activity  is  the  life- 
giving  element  for  the  University  student.  In  view  of  all  of  these 
unsatisfied  conditions  under  adherence  to  the  old  University  function  can 
anything  be  more  certain  than  that  the  State  University  must  advance 
beyond  its  traditional  indirect  service  if  it  v/ould  have  a part  in  molding 
the  higher  social  order? 

THE  COMMON’WEALTH  REALIZES  ITS  HIGHEST  DESTINY  ONLY  AS  STATE 
UNIVERSITY  FUNCTIONING  OBTAINS  IN  IT. 

Factors  of  highest  potentiality  for  progress  are  ready  at  hand  in  the 
State  University.  It  embodies  the  most  precious  elements,  in  the  best 
working  order,  of  the  social  heritage.  A people  that  fails  to  avail  itself 
of  these  in  its  upward  climb  will  be  subject  to  much  stumbling,  will 
encounter  many  pitfalls  that  might  easily  have  been  avoided,  and  will  be 
doomed  to  drag  itself  along  the  steepest  and  most  rugged  paths. 

From  the  world’s  best  literature  in  the  University  library  shine  forth 
entrancing  ideals;  from  its  laboratories  science  offers  the  most  effective 
tools  of  progress;  its  graduates  set  the  standards  of  highest  efficiency. 
The  State  University  is  the  nursery  of  a large  part  of  the  best  promise 
of  each  generation.  And  why  should  not  the  university  youth  exemplify 
faithful  and  effective  effort  for  the  deeper  and  higher  interests  of  all  the 
people?  With  this  great  and  growing  flood  of  aspiring  talent  passing 
upward  through  its  halls,  why  should  not  the  State  University  function 
directly  as  the  well-spring  of  the  spirit  and  achievements  of  progress? 
To  leave  university  mediation  out  of  the  practical  affairs  of  a com- 
monwealth is  on  the  par  with  leaving  moral  and  religious  principles  out 
of  life.  It  would  bespeak  a very  primitive  social  economy,  indeed,  not 
to  bring  the  best  theory  available  into  direct  bearing  upon  daily 
practice. 

Just  now  Oregon  has  critical  need  of  university  functioning  in  direct 
commonwealth  service.  Without  such  service  by  it,  and  by  a pure 
press,  the  forces  making  for  confusion  and  the  betrayal  of  the  people’s 
weal  seem  to  have  the  upper  hand  and  threaten  to  lead  to  a weary 
wandering  in  the  wilderness  of  futile  devices  and  policies — if  not  to 
bring  a near  approach  to  anarchy.  It  devolves  upon  the  University  here 
and  nov7  as  the  commonwealth  pilot  not  only  to  point  out  the  breakers, 
but  also  to  chart  the  course  for  the  ship  of  state  leading  to  the  haven 
of  highest  destiny. 

There  is  a growing  permanent  need  of  this  University  commonwealth 
service  as  our  social  order  is  becoming  more  and  more  dynamic.  It  is 
not  as  in  all  the  centuries  past  virtually  at  a standstill,  or  moving  at  a 
snail-like  pace.  With  this  twentieth  century  pace  of  change  our  hit-or- 
miss  social  ventures  entail  an  awful  waste  of  labor  and  of  life,  with 


imminent  danger  of  most  dire  disaster — there  are  so  many  ways  of 
going  wrong  to  one  of  going  right.  Safe  principles  of  guidance  are 
available.  The  University  is  largest  sponsor  for  them.  It  must  be 
counselled  with  if  our  public  affairs  are  to  be  handled  so  as  to  secure 
consistent  progress  with  least  mishap  and  social  cost. 

III. 

SOME  SOCIAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  CONDITIONS  IN  WHICH  THE 
NEED  FOR  COMMONWEALTH  SERVICE  CREATES  AN 
OPPORTUNITY  FOR  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

ANALYSES  OF  THESE  AS  SOCIAL  PROBLEMS  AND  THE  PROCEDURE  FOR  REFORM 
OUTLINED. — SOME  FUNDAMENTAL  SOCIAL  PROBLEMS  LISTED. 

It  is  hoped  that  enough  has  been  said  to  indicate  that  with  common- 
wealth service  fully  espoused  as  the  characteristic  function  of  the 
University  this  institution  would  become  a pervasive  regenerating  agency 
affecting  the  lives  of  all  of  the  people  of  the  State.  Regularly  registered 
improvements  in  vital  conditions  of  life,  brought  about  through  move- 
ments under  University  auspices,  and  under  the  observation  of  the 
citizen  whichever  direction  he  turned,  would  kindle  his  imagination  to 
picture  ideal  social  conditions  and  spur  him  to  resolve  upon  the  future 
realization  of  them.  A community  made  up  of  people  with  such  visions, 
and  cognizant  of  the  means  of  certainly  realizing  them,  would  be  like  “a 
going  concern”  operating  with  maximum  efficiency. 

There  is  virtually  no  limit  to  the  objects  of  public  welfare  to  which 
the  salutary  influence  of  the  University  could  be  directed.  Attention 
will  be  called  only  to  a few  of  those  for  which  the  department  of 
economics  and  sociology  should  feel  some  responsibility: 

1.  Our  POLITICAL  ORGANIZATION,  represented  in  the  school  district,  the 
municipality,  the  county  and  the  state  and  federal  governments,  as  a 
slightly  modified  heritage  from  a past  of  more  primitive  conditions, 
involves  a series  of  problems  of  re-adjustment.  Suitable  as  each  of 
these  public  agencies  might  have  been  to  past  conditions  the  adjustment 
of  each  has  not  kept  pace  with  the  rapidly  changing  social  conditions 
and  needs.  And  moreover,  lack  of  effective  publicity  in  the  conduct  of 
public  affairs  by  these  agencies  results  in  a low  degree  of  efficiency.  For 
the  raising  of  this  and  for  effecting  the  reorganization  needed  to  adapt 
to  present  day  condtions  the  University  can  be  an  essential  instru- 
mentality. 

2.  Our  industrial  organization  developed  under  a dispensation  of 
almost  unregulated  competition  accomplishes  wonders  never  before  possible 
to  humanity,  nevertheless  there  are  excrescent  features  in  our  system 
of  business  and  the  elimination  of  these  would  in  no  wise  interfere  with 
the  normal  working  of  the  industrial  system  as  a whole.  Evidence  of  this 
excrescent  development  in  our  industrial  organization  is  found  in  the 
wide  margin  between  the  price  received  by  the  producer  and  that  paid 
by  the  consumer  under  conditions  where  there  is  no  necessity  for  this 
burden  of  excessive  cost.  This  involves  the  problem  of  supplanting  the 
‘‘middleman”  through  more  extended  public  and  voluntary  cooperation. 
The  University’s  mediation  for  effecting  this  end  can  avail  much. 

3.  Our  economic  organization  includes  not  only  excrescent  features 
that  should  be  eliminated  but  it  also  exhibits  relations  that  involve  a 
GRIEVOUS  DEGREE  OF  SOCIAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  INJUSTICE.  If  the  Causes  of 
the  misery  of  the  ill-paid  and  over-worked  classes  are  not  removed 
destruction  awaits  the  civilization  as  a whole.  But  the  remedying  of 
these  evils  makes  probably  as  hard  a problem  as  man  will  ever  have 


7 


to  face.  Moreover,  the  problem  of  forestalling  the  wretchedness  of  the 
poor  will  always  be  with  us.  For  civilization  moves  forward,  from  now 
at  least,  not  so  much  on  ‘‘the  powder  cart”  as  on  increasingly  complex 
social  and  industrial  relations.  The  burden  of  a rising  civilization  is 
one  of  maintaining  salutary  social  relationships,  those  yielding  justice 
and  liberty  as  well  as  life  enrichment. 

For  the  maintenance  of  this  social  equipoise  light  as  well  as  sympathy 
will  always  be  needed — depth  of  social  insight  as  well  as  vigilance  and 
the  spirit  of  fraternity.  The  American  conscience  is  just  now  being 
thoroughly  awakened  on  this  matter.  No  other  agency  so  well  adapted  as 
is  the  State  University  can  a democracy  devise  for  simplifying  and 
clarifying  these  exceedingly  complex  problems  so  that  the  good  sense 
of  the  people  will  suffice  to  comprehend  the  issues  and  lead  them  to 
right  decisions.  For  the  work  of  indicating  the  privileges  to  be  eliminated 
and  the  social  increments  to  be  appropriated  and  outlining  the  proce^dures 
to  be  followed,  that  will  not  cause  as  much  injustice  as  it  is  aimed  to 
cure,  the  services  of  the  State  University  are  indispensable. 

4.  Oregon  should  be  ambitious.  It  comprises  a people  and  a land 
and  resources  that  are  unique.  The  road  to  pre-eminence  for  this  State 
is  open  only  through  a wider  and  higher  use  of  the  principle  of  cooper- 
ation in  commonwealth  organization  and  policies  and  by  the  people  in 
their  different  private  enterprises.  The  University  as  the  agency  for 
assimilating  the  records  throwing  light  on  the  public  welfare  activities 
of  all  advanced  peoples  is  in  position  of  advantage  to  serve  as  the  eye 
for  the  people  of  Oregon  to  discern  the  elements  advisedly  incorporated 
in  the  plans  for  developing  and  utilizing  their  prodigious  water  power; 
for  subduing,  draining  and  irrigating  the  immense  areas  of  unimproved 
lands;  in  capitalizing  projects  for  more  intense  cultivation  of  Oregon 
farms;  and  in  securing  unparalleled  facilities  for  community  recreation 
and  life  enrichment. 

5.  The  possibility  looms  of  doubling  the  legionary  forces  of  progress. 
A consciousness  is  rapidly  developing  among  us  that  the  normal  role  of 
woman  in  promoting  the  cornmonweal,  with  or  without  the  instrumentality 
of  the  ballot,  is  not  only  as  important  as  that  of  man  but  also  of  an 
allied  character.  The  actual  attainment  by  women  of  this  equal  efficiency 
in  social  achievement  depends  upon  an  inviting  scientifically  planned 
guidance  being  available  for  giving  her  insight  into  the  pith  of  the 
social  problems. 

Such  instruction  is  possible  only  as  it  based  upon  a complete  grasp 
of  the  situation  in  which  woman  finds  herself — of  her  heredity,  of  the 
peculiar  environmental  influences  affecting  her  and  of  her  outlook.  The 
University  with  its  adequate  comprehensive  view  of  the  social  process 
as  whole  alone  is  able  to  give  that  service  to  womankind.  Such  systematic 
aid  will  be  available  to  her  as  will  most  readily  and  fully  fit  her  for 
responsibilities  of  citizenship  on  the  same  plane  with  those  of  man. 
University  correspondence  courses  in  civics  and  sociology  for  women’s 
clubs  should  be  in  great  demand. 


HOW  THE  UNIVERSITY  WILL  PROCEED  TO  RENDER  EFFECTUAL  AID  TO  THE 

PEOPLE  WITH  THESE  FUNDAMENTAL  PROBLEMS THE  METHODS  RELIED 

UPON  CALL  FOR  CHARACTERISTIC  UNIVERSITY  ACTIVITIES  AND 
HA\E  RECENTLY  SECURED  HIGHEST  RESULTS  APPLIED  IN 
PRIVATE  BUSINESS  SYSTEMS. 

The  list  of  problems  defined  gives  a fair  sample  of  the  matters  upon 
which  the  people  could  make  the  best  use  of  aid  from  the  University. 
There  is  no  denying  the  fact  of  increasing  popular  restlessness  in  regard 


8 


to  evils  suffered,  burdens  borne  and  needs  left  unsatisfied.  Some  new 
agency  must  be  the  source  of  relief. 

The  common  corrective  that  the  people  need  in  their  political  and 
economic  systems  is  efficiency.  This  includes  the  doing  cheaply  and  the 
doing  well,  but  also  the  doing  all,  of  the  things  the  conditions  of  the 
community  require  should  be  done  by  public  agencies.  During  the  last 
few  years  private  business  systems  have  received  wonderful  impulses 
toward  higher  efficiency.  If  the  different  methods  used  in  gaining  this 
efficiency  in  private  enterprise  reveal  a common  principle,  this  factor 
should  be  applicable  in  effecting  the  same  degree  (or  as  we  shall  see  an 
even  greater  degree)  of  transforming  improvement  in  public  business. 
An  analysis  of  the  different  methods  relied  upon  in  private  business 
for  the  purpose  of  finding  this  common  factor  is  made  by  Charles  Buxton 
Going,  Editor  of  the  Engineering  Magazine,  in  an  article  published  in  the 
September  (1912)  Review  of  Reviews.  I quote  the  conclusion  he  reaches: 

“The  great  common  divisor  of  all  the  methods  (not  the  entirety  of 
any  one,  but  an  imposing  factor  of  all,  whether  they  be  incentive, 
scientific,  or  suggestive)  is  discovery,  illumination,  definition  and 
DISSEMINATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE — the  Open,  accessible  declaration  of  all 
the  material  facts  affecting  any  transaction,  for  the  information  and 
guidance  of  all  whose  interests  are  involved  therein. 

“Using  the  term,  not  in  its  lower  and  narrower  meaning,  but  in  the 
highest  and  finest  sense  that  can  be  given  it,  the  universal  factor — the 
great  common  divisor — of  all  the  new  philosophies  by  which  industrial 
efficiency  is  increased  is — Publicity.” 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Mr.  Going  finds  that  the  common  factor  in  all 
methods  of  gaining  a higher  efficiency  comprehends  the  “discovery, 
ILLUMINATION,  DEFINITION  AND  DISSEMINATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.”  (The 
emphasis  is  his  own.)  This  generalized  efficiency-securing  process  is 
absolutely  identical  with  the  State  University  process  or  function. 
Need  there  be  any  further  evidence  adduced  regarding  the  propriety  or 
the  desirability  of  commonwealth  service  by  the  University,  or  any 
hesitation  as  to  the  method  of  procedure  for  rendering  such  common- 
wealth service?  It  is  true  that  the  securing  of  social  and  industrial 
justice  was  included  along  with  efficiency  as  one  of  the  general  aims  of 
University  commonwealth  service.  But  if  publicity,  “in  the  highest  and 
finest  sense  that  can  be  given  it,”  makes  for  efficiency  it  surely  will 
suffice  also  for  the  end  of  social  justice. 

The  first  step  in  entering  upon  any  improvement  work  means  a 
survey.  With  this  the  facts  in  the  situation  are  discovered.  There 
comes  then  the  charting,  diagramming  and  mapping  of  the  data  secured 
to  illuminate  and  define  this  knowledge.  Reorganization  or  reconstruction 
to  secure  conformity  to  the  normal  or  ideal  type  is  next  in  order.  This 
will  be  effected  through  the  publication  in  reports  (dissemination)  of 
the  organized  knowledge  to  evoke  the  power  of  enlightened  public  opinion. 
Cooperative  effort  will  then  obtain  towards  reaching  a higher  plane  of 
social  life. 

In  securing  these  social  surveys,  the  experting  of  accounting  systems 
and  in  promoting  the  work  of  reform  and  improvement  the  distinctive 
role  of  the  University  is  that  of  the  guide  and  counselor.  Its  most 
productive  effort  is  that  which  secures  the  federation  and  stimulation 
of  the  different  organizations  of  social  uplift  and  in  bringing  about  a 
coordination  of  their  activities.  Granges,  municipal  leagues,  women’s 
clubs  and  other  civic  organizations  should  get  light  and  leading  from 
the  State  University.  Only  when  such  conditions  obtain  are  the  agencies 
of  social  progress  in  normal  working  order. 


9 


BRIEF  AND  TENTATIVE  ANALYSES  OF  ASPECTS  OF  SOCIAL  PROBLEMS  EXHIBITED 
IN  OREGON  CONDITIONS. 

Many  symptoms  indicate  that  much  is  awry  in  in  the  organization 
and  functioning  of  our  political  and  economic  systems.  The  burden  of  the 
support  of  the  political  agencies  are  inequitably  shared.  Taxes  almost 
impoverish  some,  others  hardly  feel  their  portion.  The  average  rates 
levied  are  high  with  no  proportionate  return  in  public  services,  indicating 
a state  of  inefficiency.  Many  community  requirements  are  not  met  at 
all.  Our  systems  for  effecting  exchanges  of  products  and  of  labor  .ire 
clumsy  in  the  extreme,  involving  inordinate  costs. 

Unearned  increments  are  enjoyed  by  some  who  luxuriate  in  idleness 
while  others  suffer  dire  conditions  of  poverty.  Unworthy  standards  of 
living  are  too  common.  We  need  to  shift  as  rapidly  as  possible  our 
social  order  from  its  basis  of  property  to  that  of  function  and  'has 
make  it  a moral  order. 

Our  enterprises  lag  and  we  go  without  comforts  and  3ontinue  in 
drugery.  We  are  slow  in  applying  the  beneficent  principles  of  cooperation 
and  of  concentration  of  our  capital.  We  are  wasting  non-renewable 
resources,  and  leaving  undeveloped  others  the  use  of  which  would  not 
involve  any  depreciation  or  consumption. 

Need  enough  there  is  of  a diagnosis  of  the  perversities  in  the  different 
aspects  of  our  social  order.  Slight  analyses  will  be  attempted  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  illustration. 

1.  Our  COMMONWEALTH  POLITICAL  MACHINERY,  represented  in  our 
school  district,  municipal,  county  and  State  organizations,  is  liable  to 
deterioration  in  service  and  maladjustment  to  our  needs.  With  lack  of 
publicity  the  incompetent  and  the  designing  introduce  inefficiency  and 
graft.  An  equally  or  more  important  impairment  arises  out  of  the 
conditions  of  social  progress  itself.  Social  conditions  are  fluid  but  these 
social  structures  are  comparatively  fixed.  Readjustment  of  these  organ- 
izations, both  in  functions  and  forms  is  needed  or  social  waste,  and 
social  wrong  as  well  as  obstruction  to  advancement,  occur. 

For  the  securing  of  all  these,  publicity,  readjustment,  and  reorganiza- 
tion— the  service  of  the  University  will  be  most  helpful. 

(a)  Through  its  aid  uniform  systems  of  accounting  for  the  same 
orders  of  institutions  will  be  developed  and  installed.  These  will  serve 
as  means  for  determining  and  comparing  costs  of  like  units  of  service 
by  the  different  governments  of  the  same  class.  Publicity  and  efficiency 
will  thus  be  promoted. 

(b)  Scientific  budget-making  will  then  be  possible  and  will  be  installed 
so  that  expenditures  proportionate  to  the  respective  measures  of  social 
need  will  be  realized.  Readjustment  and  efficiency,  in  the  sense  of  getting 
right  service,  will  be  gained. 

(c)  The  University  will  foster  reorganization  effecting  concentration 
of  responsibility,  will  help  to  make  rewards  proportional  to  service,  and 
tenure  and  promotion  will  be  made  to  depend  on  desert.  Elective  officers 
will  be  limited  to  those  who  determine  policy  so  that  with  short  ballots 
the  personnel  for  the  offices  may  be  intelligently  selected. 

A burdensome  cost  of  maintenance  now  rests  upon  all  who  do  not 
share  in  unearned  increments,  legal  privileges  or  monopoly  gains.  Relief 
will  be  secured  by  getting  a portion  of  the  public  funds  needed  through 
appropriation  of  social  increments  and  through  the  special  taxation  of 
those  who  have  franchise  and  other  monopoly  profits. 

The  University  coming  to  the  aid  of  the  people  mystified  and  confused 
by  these  undesirable  political  conditions  will  succeed  in  pointing  the 
way  to  mastery  of  the  situation  because  of  its  bringing  to  bear  an  insight 
into  the  principles  underlying  it.  Using  all  significant  facts  that  are 


10 


ascertained  through  surveys,  analyses  are  made  of  the  elements  of  each 
problem.  With  charts,  diagrams,  maps  and  exhibits  the  whole  is  brought 
to  intelligent  comprehension  by  the  people,  and  their  successful  adminis- 
tration of  their  public  affairs  with  the  largest  realization  of  the  common- 
weal naturally  follows. 

2.  The  EXCRESCENT  FEATURES  that  our  INDUSTRIAL  SYSTEM  exhibits 
deserve  the  attention  of  people  who  desire  to  get  rid  of  an  unnecessary 
handicap.  Evidence  of  the  uneconomic  processes  in  the  business  world 
is  found  in  the  excessive  cost  to  society  of  the  work  of  effecting  the 
exchange  of  commodities  and  services.  The  extent  of  the  ‘‘middleman’s” 
toll  is  measured  by  so  much  of  the  wide  margin  between  the  price 
received  by  the  producer  and  that  paid  by  the  consumer  as  it  exceeds 
the  cost  of  the  process — performed  most  economically — for  effecting  this 
social  service. 

The  situation  is  a challenge  to  communities  to  organize  and  maintain 
private  and  public  agencies  of  cooperation.  The  art  of  administering 
associations  for  cooperative  buying  and  selling  and  of  maintaining  public 
markets  is  to  be  acquired.  Labor  exchanges  in  the  shape  of  a system  of 
free  employment  offices  and  agencies  need  to  be  instituted  that  unemploy- 
ment with  its  woeful  consequences  may  be  reduced  to  the  lowest  limit. 
Land  exchanges  should  be  established  to  obviate  the  social  cost  of  main- 
taining a horde  of  almost  parasitic  real  estate  dealers  as  well  as  to 
protect  unsophisticated  purchasers  from  ruining  impositions. 

In  connection  with  this  social  problem  of  reaching  a higher  plane 
with  our  organization  for  effecting  exchanges  the  University  will  lend 
substantial  aid.  There  will  be  the  collaboration  of  the  different  forms 
that  organizations  for  cooperation  have  assumed.  The  significant  history 
of  projects  having  fields  similar  to  those  presented  by  Oregon  will  be 
traced.  An  inductive  study  of  the  facts  thus  ascertained  will  be  made 
with  reference  to  ascertaining  the  requisites  for  success  under  Oregon 
conditions.  The  problem  as  a whole  is  one  of  acquiring  a higher  degree 
of  economic  and  social  competency.  The  University’s  service  toward 
simplifying  and  clarifying  the  conditions  to  be  met,  in  making  available 
the  light  of  all  experiments  in  this  line,  and  in  bringing  about  a clearer 
realization  of  the  measure  of  the  gain  success  would  yield — all  this 
together  should  suffice  toward  reaching  a new  goal  of  victory  in  this 
struggle  for  freedom  from  a burdening  handicap. 

3.  Industrial  and  Social  Injustice.  The  range  of  need  which  a 
commonwealth  has  for  counsel  and  aid  is  wider  far  than  that  of  keeping 
its  political  organizations  at  highest  efficiency  and  adjusted  to  present  day 
requirements.  Relief  of  a more  general  character  too  is  sought  than 
that  which  will  be  obtained  through  an  economic  performance  of  the 
middleman’s  function.  Our  highly  developed  social  organism  is  suscep- 
tible at  every  point  to  preying  propensities.  Not  unlike  is  it  in  this 
respect  to  the  highly  bred  scions  of  the  orchard  and  the  farm.  (But  there 
the  figure  ends.)  Citizens  otherwise  exemplar  and  well-disposed  are 
implicated  in  these  parasitical  gains.  So  great  are  the  prizes  and  so 
disguised  the  transactions  that  many  fall  into  temptation.  The  money- 
getting spirit  of  the  age  creates  a maelstrom  current  towards  these  doors 
opening  into  relations  that  involve  grievous  injustice  especially  to  the 
weaker  members  of  society. 

The  wide  separation  between  the  producer  of  any  considerably  trans- 
formed or  com^pounded  product  and  the  consumer  of  it  not  only  gives 
opportunity  for  a highwayman  act  by  the  middleman  but  it  also  renders 
the  producer  fairly  safe  in  any  act  of  adulteration  or  debasement.  The 
far  remove  of  the  capitalist  participant  in  any  enterprise  from  the 
laborer,  effected  through  corporate  and  trust  organization,  shields  the 


11 


sensibilities  of  the  stockholder  from  the  oppressive  cruelties  that  through 
stern  demands  for  dividends,  are  inflicted  upon  women  and  children 
employees. 

Public  opinion  in  our  modern  democracy,  acting  directly  or  through 
legislative,  administrative  or  court  officials,  takes  all  these  matters  into 
its  own  hands.  It  is  at  a fearful  disadvantage.  These  forms  of  social 
injustice  made  possible  by  the  widely  extending  and  enmeshed  character 
of  our  business  and  economic  relations  are  myriad.  Without  trained 
social  insight  and  imagination  the  citizen  who  helps  to  create  public 
opinion  is  non-plussed  by  the  situation.  The  exploiter  wears  sheep’s 
clothing.  His  personal  habits  are  exemplar.  His  bearing  in  the  family 
and  in  the  local  community  is  above  criticism.  He  poses  as  a philanthrop- 
ist. A moiety  of  the  ill-gotten  gains  go  into  the  box  for  home  and 
foreign  missions  and  to  endowment  funds  for  hospitals  and  universities. 

A glance  at  the  general  aspect  of  the  slum;  at  the  maimed  workman, 
the  fatherless  household  or  the  child  factory-employee  there;  at  the 
unsafe  and  insanitary  factory;  at  the  penniless  found  everywhere  whose 
all  was  with  the  bank  that  was  wrecked,  or  was  enveigled  into  the  hands 
of  some  swindling  schemer — such  things  prove  beyond  any  possibility  of 
question  that  public  opinion  with  its  present  help  is  far  too  slow  and 
too  dull  of  sense.  The  people  must  be  trained  to  an  insight  into  social 
relations  that  has  the  X-ray  power  for  detecting  elements  of  social 
injustice.  A mind’s  eye  sense  that  suflices  for  visualizing  these  invisible 
but  momentous  matters  for  our  welfare  will  be  developed  only  as  the 
thought  of  the  people  is  trained  to  a comprehensive  and  facile  grasp 
of  the  vital  parts  of  our  social  organization.  The  University  alone  can 
lead  in  the  attainment  of  competency  by  a democratic  people  for 
twentieth  century  conditions. 

Constructive  changes  in  our  social  order  must  be  in  progress  so  that 
the  present  sweeping  power  of  temptation  will  be  lessened.  Reforms  that 
will  bring  motives  of  service  into  play  where  those  of  greed  now  hold 
sway  must  be  instituted.  Public  ownership  supplanting  the  privately 
owned  monopolies  will  effect  this  if  imagination  and  civic  spirit  can  be 
made  to  grow  apace  with  these  changes  in  the  social  order.  The  other 
alternative  ‘‘is  to  fence  off  the  downward  paths  and  leave  competition 
to  spur  rivals  into  the  upward  path.”  For  the  installation  of  the  most 
efficient  systems  of  regulation  and  control  the  University’s  aid  is  indis- 
pensable. 

But  at  best  our  “spread-out  manner  of  life”  and  highly  capitalized 
industry  must  havd  its  attending  systems  of  relief.  In  devising  and 
perfecting  these,  too,  the  University  becomes  normally  the  main  factor. 

4.  The  Larger  Cooperation.  Industry  had  its  great  historic  and 
revolutionary  expansion  through  capitalization.  This  was  but  a larger 
combination  of  the  productive  power  of  past  ’labor  with  present  labor. 
It  was  a synthesis.  Through  a similar  alliance  of  the  present  capitalized 
units  the  next  higher  order  of  expansion  will  be  realized.  The  trusts 
were  more  or  less  perverted  anticipations  of  this  development,  due  to  the 
fact  of  their  being  surcharged  with  sinister  motives. 

Success  on  this  higher  plane  demands  a larger  plan  and  higher 
purpose.  It  involves  using  any  line  of  resources  of  the  commonwealth  in 
a coordinated  unit  and  having  in  view  social  productivity  rather  than 
private  profit  alone.  The  very  statement  of  this  problem  indicates  that 
the  steps  towards  its  solution  must  be  assisted  by  the  University.  Take 
for  example  Oregon’s  power  resources.  Nothing  like  the  best  development 
of  them  is  possible  except  as  the  enterprise  is  worked  out  as  a whole. 
And  a state  university  worthy  the  name  would  figure  in  that  development. 

5.  The  civic  awakening  of  the  womanhood  of  the  State  is  a movement 


12 


of  highest  importance.  Realization  of  largest  results  from  it  can  be 
expected  only  as  the  best  encouragement  and  guidance  are  available. 
The  wealth  of  light  that  social  psychology,  sociology  and  allied  sciences 
can  throw  upon  the  aims  woman  is  intent  upon  attaining  should  be 
brought  into  service.  The  University  is  the  agency  for  the  opportunity. 
Through  its  activities  in  this  line  of  service  the  team  hitched  to  the  car 
of  progress  will  be  doubled. 


Thus  in  the  clear  and  conscious  and  devoted  espousal  of  commonwealth  service 
along  all  lines  the  University  for  the  first  time  gets  into  normal  relations  with 
the  other  agencies  of  social  uplift  and  into  helpful  and  inspiring  service  of  all 
of  the  people.  Its  spirit  as  the  exponent  of  light  and  co-operation  will  have  a 
transforming  power  even  greater  than  that  of  its  active  efforts.  The  University 
of  Oregon  will  then  truly  have  the  relation  of  prophet  and  redeemer  to  the  pure 
democracy  of  Oregon. 


13 


I 

\ 


